Fear is Afraid of You

Joshua 2:8-11 MSG Before the spies were down for the night, the woman came up to them on the roof (9) and said, “I know that GOD has given you the land. We’re all afraid. Everyone in the country feels hopeless. (10) We heard how GOD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt, and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you put under a holy curse and destroyed. (11) We heard it and our hearts sank. We all had the wind knocked out of us. And all because of you, you and GOD, your God, God of the heavens above and God of the earth below.

Joshua 2:23-24 MSG The men headed back. They came down out of the hills, crossed the river, and returned to Joshua son of Nun and reported all their experiences. (24) They told Joshua, “Yes! GOD has given the whole country to us. Everybody there is in a state of panic because of us.”

How many times have you heard the phrase, “They’re more afraid of you than you are of them.”? I know I’ve heard it said to people I’m around, on TV, movies, and I can still hear my dad saying it to me any number of times regarding some kind of critter (snakes, large spiders, etc…) that managed to get in our house or garage while I was growing up. As cliché as it sounds, it’s generally true.

Whether you got promoted and you’re just about to meet your new staff or you are heading off to college to live in the dorms, your new staff, roommate, others on the floor, and especially the floor monitor are just as apprehensive as you and probably much more so, because unless they know Jesus, they don’t have the same peace available to them as you do to you. Nor do they possess the promises of God’s favor, blessing, and unending presence with you.

Just like all the people of Jericho were terrified and in a state of panic at the prospect of God’s people moving back into the land, the devil and his cohorts are terrified of you. They were present when Jesus soundly defeated the devil (Colossians 2:15) and remember when he was cast out of Heaven with a thud (Isaiah 14:12-15). They have seen the great things God has done and His great love for His children. They know that God’s Word does not return unto Him void, but accomplishes what He pleases (Isaiah 55:11) and they feel as if the wind has been knocked out of them. Now, the enemy would never tell you that… but instead will try to put up a strong front. Still, it is the truth. Rise up in that truth. Go forth in confidence and inherit all the promises of God. There may be obstacles of “Jerichos” on the path before you. But FEAR NOT the enemy will not stand and will not win. They see you coming and are gasping for breathe.